The handover took place in the depot of Pristina transport company Trafiku Urban and was attended by the mayor of Pristina, Minister of Finance, representatives of the EBRD, the Czech Ambassador in Pristina, representatives of Trafiku Urban and numerous media representatives.

Mayor Shpend Ahmeti said: “The introduction of the new buses marks the beginning of a major reform of public transport in Pristina. They will offer a sustainable and modern service to our citizens and significantly reduce pollution. It is the first EBRD public municipal investment in Kosovo. The loan for the buses will be complemented by the technical assistance grants.”  He also said that the commissioning of 51 vehicles would not be the final number. Pristina needs a total of 160-200 buses to fully ensure public transport. The municipality will buy a half of the number and the other half will be operated by a private investor.  Finance Minister Avdullah Hoti said that the support of Kosovo municipalities through loans from the EBRD and banking institutions would also continue in the future.

Ambassador Ivo Šilhavý said: “A well-functioning and environmental friendly public transport provides a prosperous and healthy life for a city. I am delighted that public transport in Pristina is being transformed into a modern system. The Czech Republic supports Kosovo on its path to the EU. This means not only political support but also support to improve people’s standards of living. Thanks to the EBRD investment, the new buses are entering into service right now. Fewer emissions and less noise, more reliability and comfort – this is the message that these buses are bringing.”

Jiří Škeřík, manager of Iveco CZ for the Balkans region, appreciated the cooperation with the Croatian partner in this tender and confirmed the negotiations on an amendment to the contract for the additional 21 buses. He also expressed the hope that this contract would increase the chances of obtaining some additional orders for Iveco CZ in Kosovo's towns and in the Western Balkans region.

The public transport in Pristina and in Kosovo offers a significant potential for the growth. The current bus fleets operated in Kosovo are mainly used cars imported from the EU countries, whose technical conditions do not meet the requirements for a harmless operation.

The purchase of the new buses for Pristina has become a major event that has received the media attention since the signing of the contract in September 2016. The arrival of the buses in Kosovo in late December 2016 was monitored by the media and of course a favorite topic was the official handover of the buses on 11 January 2017 followed by the first city tours with the official guests and journalists.